Meat-labeling machine.



R. A PEARSON. MEAT LABELING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILEIJ'IEB. 17. 1909.

911,676, 9 P9tented Feb. 9. 1909.

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ROBERT A. PEARSOBL OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

MEAT-LABELING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

Application filed February 17, 1908. Serial No. 416,280.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT A. PEARSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at. Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Meat-Labeling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

In packing houses where meats are commonly prepared for market, a rigid Government inspection is enforced, every piece of meat sent out from the packing house being previously carefully inspected and labeled inspected, the label also indicating the source or packer in whose establishment the meat is dressed. At the present time the common method of labeling or tagging dressed meat consists in using a gelatin label, with the inspection notice thereon, upon each piece as it is inspected, or frequently an ink stamp is used to im rint upon the meat the notice that the same as been duly inspected. The disadvantages of the first label are many and obvious, while in like manner the stamped imprint upon meats is objectionable for many reasons, and especially to consumers who buy from the retailers. Another method sometimes employed is that of branding on the meat the inspection notice, but this plan involves a longer operation than that of pasting the labels, and other disadvantages are incidental thereto.

For the above reasons meat packers have long been desirous of securing a practical, and expeditious mode of applying inspection labels or tags to meats, and also one which will necessitate the use of a label or tag which may be effectively applied without likelihood of accidental displacement. A metal tag has been thought to be most suitable forthe purpose.

In the practical embodiment of my invention, I provide a small machine, handy and convenient for carrying about the person, and which will quickly and securely apply a metal tag or labels to meat for the-purposes set forth hereinbefore, or whenever it is desired to label meats or'the like, for'any purpose whatsoever, the invention possessing many advantageous features of construction and operation as will be pointed out fully hereinafter.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following detail description and to the accompanying draw- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying the essential features of my in- 'vention; Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view; Fig. 4 is a detail cross section of the chute showing the form of the follower; Fig. 5 is a detail showingthe locking device, and Fig. 6 is a detail of one of the metal tags before being applied.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the following description and on the several views of the drawings.

Specifically describing my invention and referrin particularly to the drawings, the numera 1 designates a handle by which my device is supported and operated, under actual conditions of service. Extending from one end of the handle 1, and at a slight angle thereto is a base plate 2 upon which is mounted the labeling mechanism by which metal labels or tags are affixed to the meat. The base plate 2 of the labeling mechanism is attached at its inner end portion by a fastening 3 to a supporting plate 4 arranged beneath the same, said supporting plate being permanently attached to the handle 1 by means of rivets 5, or the like. A recess in the adjacent end of the handle 1 provides a space between this ortion of the handle and t e plate 4 in whic the inner extremity of the late 2 is received, the construction affording a rigid mounting for the plates 2 and 4. The outermost end portion of the upper or base plate 2 is reduced toward the outer extremity thereof and curved upwardly to form a guide extension 6. At its middle portion the plate 2 extends upwardly at about a right angle to its inner end, as shown at 7 and this spaces the outer portion of the plate 2 from the adjacent ortion of the plate 4, the latter being formed with spaced meat engaging or penetrating members 8 which are arranged beneath the plate 2 and substantially in the same plane as the body portion of the plate 4 with which they are integral. The penetrating members 8 are pointed to their outer extremities so as to facilitate the operation of forcing said members into the meat, preparatory to the application of a label or tag. Not only are the members 8 pointed, but the adjacent or inner edges of said members curve upwardly forming deflecting surfaces and flanges 8 the purpose of which will appear more fully as the description proceeds.

The labeling mechanism employed as a part of my machine is very simple and con sists mainly of a tubular guide or holder 9 in which is mounted for vertical movement a plunger 10, the latter being provided at its upper end with a head orhandle 11. A coiled spring 12 encircles the plunger 10 and is interposed between the head 11 and the upper end of the guide or holder 9, said sprin normally holding the plunger at the upper limit of its movement upon the mem ber 9. The plunger 10 is provided with a longitudinal slot 13 through which passes transverse guide pin 14 secured to the upper extremity of the holder 9. in the lower portion thereof, the guide or holder 9 is formed with a slot 15 extending about half way across the body thereof, a feed opening 16 leading downwardly from the central portion of the said slot. Projecting outwardly from the holder 9 is a small chute 17 in which is mounted a longitudinally movable follower 18 by which a tag or label received n the chute is fed therefrom through the slot 15 and opening 16 into the guide or holder 9, and held in such position until the plunger 10 is actuated to apply said tag or label to the meat.

The upper edge portions of the sides of the chute 17 are formed with inwardly extending flanges 19 entering recesses in opposite sides of the follower 18 and preventing upward displacement of the follower as well as guiding it in its movement longitudinally of its support 17. The follower 18 is shaped so as to snugly lit in the chute 17 and said follower is operated by a rod 20 one end of which is screwed into an opening in the follower, while the opposite end of the rod extends through an opening in the outer end of the chute and is bent to form a "finger piece 21. A spring surrounds the rod 20 and is arranged between the outer end of the chute 17 and the follower 18, normally tending to force the follower toward the guide or holder 9. In order that the follower 18 may be temporarily held in a position remote from the guide 9, the rod 20 is provided in a side thereof with a recess 22 adapted to be engaged by the outer end of the chute when the rod is pulled outwardly and given a slight lateral movement to effect such desired engagement. Vi hen the rod 20 is interlocked with the chute 17 to hold the follower in an adjusted position as described, a tag or metal label may be readily )lZtCGCl in the chute preparatory to being fed into the guide or holder 9 when the follower is released and forced inwardly by the spring cooperating therewith.

Above is described the general construction of my machine as preferred, the chute 17 being integrally formed with the holder 9 and base plate 2. The detail structure of the device, however, may be modified in rccordance with the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

)ing the operation of the machine, when it is desired to allix a metal label to the meat, and assuming that one or more of said labels are arranged in the chute 17, the operator by U tsping' the handle 1 forces the engaging members 8 into the meat until said members are embedded therein somewhat as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the iinger niece 21. having been manipulated so as to force th llower l8 inwardly, this movement of the followm feeding the label or tag into the guide or holder 9 where it is he d by slight pressure of the follmver there- 0 .st. The plunger 10 is forced downwardly until its inner or lower end engages the or label and ejects the latter from the guide fl which of course open atits lower extremity just above the ens. qrz ing members 8. The tag, indicated at .23 may be of anysuita e shape, conforming with the shape of the g ide or holder 9 in cross section, and being provided with engaging projections or prongs extending from its under side. The flanged inner edges 5% of the engaging members 8 project fully into the path of IHOVOIHGR} of opposite prongs of the tag or label 23 as the latter is ejected from the guide 9. Thus when the plunger 1 (l is operated to affix the label to the meat, as the said label passes from the holder f) the prongs il-l thereof are embedded in the meat and by reason of the peculiar arrangcincnt of the engaging members 8, the deflecting: surfaces of the flanges S deflect or bend the prongs of th or label outwardly and upwardly there. ehectively attaching the label to the meat in a manner which will be readily apparent. The engaging members ther fore c itute not only means for engaging the deuce with the meat but said members are virtually anvils cooperating with the plunger 10 to deflect the pron or projections 2%!- of the tag in such a way as to insure firm attachment of aid tag to the meat.

The handle 1 is so arranged relative to the parts supported tllClfll) as to avoid likelihood of contact of the hand with the meat as the device is engaged with the latter. il henever it is found necessary to clean the parts of the machine, the supporting and base plates may be readily detached from one another by removal. of the fastening 3.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

1. In a meat labeling machine, the combination with a meat penetrating device constituting an anvil, of labeling mecl'ia-nisin including means for forcing labels a 11st the penetrating device and upsetting said labels while the penetrating device is embedded in meat.

2. In a meat labeling machine, the combination of spaced pointed meat penetrating members constituting anvils, of labeling mechanism including means for forcing metal labels against the penetrating members whereby to upset said labels While the pene trating members are embedded in meat.

3. In a meat labeling machine, the combination of a handle provided at an end thereof with pointed meat penetrating members forme with deflecting surfaces, label feeding mechanism mounted on said handle, and

means arranged at an angle to the meat pene the meat while they are embedded therein,

and label feeding mechanism for the plunger.

5. A meat labeling machine comprising a base plate, a supporting plate arranged beneath the 7 same and attached thereto, a handle connected with the supporting plate, said supporting plate being provided at its outer end with spaced penetrating members curved transversely to form deflecting surfaces and constituting anvils, a guide for labels carried by the base plate and having at its lower end an o ening above the penetrating members, sai penetrating members being spaced from the base plate and adapted to be forced into the meat, label feeding means for supplying labels to the label guide, and a plunger operating in the label guide for forcing labels against the anvil penetrating members to secure said labels to meat.

In testimony whereof I aifiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

7 ROBERT A. PEARSON.

Witnesses:

GEO. L. BEELER, EDWIN O. HILDEBRAND. 

